Floral resource partitioning by ants and bees in a jambolan Syzygium jambolanum (Myrtaceae) agroforestry system in Brazilian Meridional Amazon

The fruit production of flowering plants critically depends on the pollination services provided by animals that compete for flower resources. The output of competitive interactions between ants and bees for inflorescences of jambolan Syzygium jambolanum (Myrtaceae) in an agroforestry system in Brazilian Meridional Amazonian are an interesting system of investigation due the possibility to control variables experimentally. In 20 S. jambolanum individuals we performed 300 treatments in different inflorescences of two strata (upper and lower) as follows: (1) ants exclusion, (2) bees exclusion, and (3) control group where ants and bees could access the inflorescences. There was no difference in the number of inflorescences, volume of nectar and sugar concentration between the strata. Also the visitors considered are distributed equally in the tree??s stratum. When bees were prevented from access the inflorescences, ants dominated more inflorescences only in the lower stratum. On the contrary, when ants were excluded, bees visited more inflorescences only in the upper stratum. We conclude that ants prevent the access to bees and vice versa as the result of different ability of resource utilization and foraging strategies. Thus, preventing the access of ants to the floral nectar could increase the level of nectar available to pollinators of S. jambolanum, thereby increasing productivity and reducing economic losses.     

Phenology,pollination and breeding system of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegle marmelos</Emphasis> (Linn.) correa (Rutaceae) from India

Studies on reproductive biology are difficult but useful in species like Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa which is of considerable socio-economic importance and possess morphogenetic variation and qualities of wider adaptability to different soils. Cytology, phenology, pollination, breeding system and natural regeneration of wild and cultivated trees from India revealed the existence of diploid (2n = 18) and tetraploid trees (2n = 36) in Pachmarhi hills and only diploid trees in Punjab plains and Shiwalik hills. The diploid and tetraploid trees showed normal meiosis and high pollen fertility. Phenological events which included leaf fall, leaf emergence, floral bud break, flowering and fruiting are nearly the same in wild and cultivated trees. Natural pollen transfer in the species was highly efficient. Levels of fruit set following open pollination was quite high and is reduced considerably following hand pollination probably due to some injury caused to stigma during experiments. Inspite of synchronous nature of anther dehiscence and stigmatic receptivity, selfing in a flower was avoided due to herkogamy. Some selfing, however, occurred through geitonogamous mode as bagging of panicles yielded 12.21 ± 0.99 to 14.12 ± 0.91% fruit set. High pollen ovule ratio (9,250–10,600) indicated toward the obligate outbreeding nature. The species suited to insect and wind mode of pollination. High amount of air borne pollen grains deposited on glycerine smeared glass microscopic slides suggested towards the wind mode of pollination. Though flowers are dull coloured a variety of insects visited the flowers due to sweet fragrance and stamen/pollen as food reward. Among insect pollinators, honey bee (Apis dorsata) was the major and legitimate pollinator while the rest were either minor pollinators or mere visitors. Inspite of high fruit/seed set, natural regeneration through seeds was poor as fallen fruits were destroyed by fungal pathogens and white ants. The species also propagated vegetatively through coppices and root suckers. It lacks agamospermy as bagging of emasculated flowers yielded no fruit. It is inferred that ‘bael’ which lacks agamospermy reproduced successfully through gamospermy (xenogamy and geitonogamy) and vegetative mode (coppices and root suckers). We also concluded that tetraploid trees growing in the Pachmarhi hills with large sized fruits possessed better potentialities in horticulture if planted through root suckers or coppices.     

Reproductive biology of the critically endangered tropical tree Talbotiella gentii

Talbotiella gentii is a critically endangered caesalpiniaceous legume endemic to Ghana, restricted in distribution to the margins of the forest zone where there has been extensive fire damage in recent decades. It occurs as isolated, near-monospecific populations, some of which show little seedling regeneration. We studied its reproduction to determine limitations that might inform efforts to prevent its extinction. We report on flowering phenology, pollen dispersal and germination, fruit and seed set, seed size and germination, and seedling survival, using controlled and open pollination. Talbotiella gentii flowers profusely in most years. Although the flowers are coloured and scented, no animal pollinators were observed but pollen can be dispersed by wind. In open pollination, the number of pollen grains on stigmas and their germination was sufficient to fertilise the three ovules, despite competition from heavy stigmatic infestation by fungal spores and hyphae. Fruit set and seed set were low due to high flower losses and fruit abortion during development but ripe seeds showed high germination. Controlled pollination experiments (self, supplemented self, and intra- and inter-population crosses) showed that, while the species is self-compatible, selfing was the least successful treatment in all of the above steps of reproduction, whereas cross-pollination enhanced most steps, the more so for inter-population crosses. Seed size was notably greater in inter-population crosses and was positively correlated with genetic distance of the cross. The larger seeds associated with cross-pollination showed higher germination and seedling survival in the nursery. We conclude that limitations to natural reproduction in T. gentii are principally due to processes between pollen germination and fruit and seed set, including pollen quality (low genetic diversity and inbreeding), fertilisation rates, flower and fruit abortion, and resource limitation. Low seed size in open and self pollination may have implications for seedling establishment. Species fitness might be improved by introducing other genotypes to existing populations, but in situ protection of the populations is essential in the medium term.     

Changes in size of soil seed bank in Robinia pseudoacacia L. (Leguminosae), an exotic tall tree species in Japan: Impacts of stand growth and apicultural utilization

This study examined the factors that influence the size of a soil seed bank in Robinia pseudoacacia stands. We proposed two hypotheses: the amount of buried seeds of R. pseudoacacia is proportional to stand biomass rather than stand age, and apicultural utilization influences the size of the soil seed bank. R. pseudoacacia generally produces seeds with various degrees of physical dormancy. In addition, this tree is short-lived, and fecundity declines after 30–40 years in relation to tree vigor. However, R. pseudoacacia is intensively used in apiculture as an important honey source, and supply of honeybees by beekeepers could influence seed crops. We investigated 25 plantations in Hokkaido (Central, Hidaka, and Oshima) and in Nagano, Japan, where many naturally regenerated R. pseudoacacia stands occur. We found great variation in the size of the soil seed bank among stands, ranging from 13,757 to 6.4 seeds m⁻² per plot. A generalized linear mixed model revealed that both basal area (BA_Rp) and apicultural utilization best explained the size of the soil seed bank. Both the positive effect of BA_Rp and small contribution of stand age to the model implied that the soil seed bank is transitory, and will not persist for very long time. The large contribution of apicultural utilization to the size of the soil seed bank implied pollinator limitation under natural conditions. R. pseudoacacia often has large flower crops, and native pollinators can not keep up with the demand for pollination. Thus, the supply of honeybees by beekeepers should improve the pollination success of R. pseudoacacia. From these results, we conclude that we must consider stand history with respect to apicultural utilization if the land is harvested or a stand declines.     

The contribution of non-managed social bees to coffee production: new economic insights based on farm-scale yield data

Fruit set and quality of highland coffee (Coffea arabica) have been experimentally shown to be higher with bee-mediated or manual pollen supplementation than with autonomous self-pollination. Based on extrapolation from these small-scale experiments, very substantial monetary values for the pollination service have recently been suggested. However, previous research has not included direct measurement of coffee yield at a farm level in relation to pollinator activity, testing if pollinators are not only limiting fruit set and quality, but also coffee yield and farm profit. The extrapolations from small-scale experiments may be subject to error, because resource reallocation during fruit development, associated with enhanced pollination, was neglected, and many studies were restricted to a single coffee farm, limiting the validity of extrapolation. Here, we investigate the relationship between coffee yield and the community of coffee flower-visiting bees on 21 farms in Ecuador, where coffee is grown under tree shade. Our data show, for the first time on a farm-scale, that coffee yield was positively related to the density of non-managed, social flower-visiting bees per coffee shrub, but not to the number of inflorescences per shrub. Our data revealed that a fourfold increase in bee density was associated with an 80% increase in yield and an 800% increase in net revenues. Consequently, in our study higher yield associated with increased pollination generated higher revenues per hectare, so that farm profit was higher when bees were abundant.     

小桐子繁育系统与传粉生态学研究

在野外定位观测小桐子花朵的功能形态特征、开花动态、传粉方式,用杂交指数(OCI)、花粉/胚珠比(P/O)、去雄、套袋、人工授粉等方法分别测定小桐子的繁育系统.结果显示:(1)小桐子是单性花,雌雄同株同序.雄花单花期2 d,雌花单花期5～8 d,雌花直径略大于雄花.(2)雄花开花后9 h内花粉活力较高,24 h后花粉活力明显降低,48 h后花粉基本散失活力;雌花柱头可授性在开花后4 d内最强,5～8 d可授性开始降低,第9天基本失去可授性.(3)传粉方式以虫媒传粉为主,为虫媒植物.(4)繁育系统检测结果为部分自交亲和异交,需要传粉者活动才能完成授粉过程.     

Anti-staphylococcal activity of C-methyl flavanones from propolis of Australian stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria) and fruit resins of Corymbia torelliana (Myrtaceae)

Propolis of Australian stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria, Meliponini) originating from Corymbia torelliana (Myrtaceae) fruit resins was tested for its antimicrobial activities as well as its flavonoid contents. This study aimed at the isolation, structural elucidation and antibacterial testing of flavanones of C. torelliana fruit resins that are incorporated into stingless bee propolis. Flavanones of this study were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods including UV, 1D and 2D NMR, EI-MS, ESI-MS and HR-MS. The results indicated known C-methylated flavanones namely, 1 (2S)-cryptostrobin, its regioisomer 2 (2S)- stroboponin, 3 (2S)- cryptostrobin 7-methyl ether, and 6 (2S)- desmethoxymatteucinol, and known flavanones 4 (2S)- pinostrobin and 5 (2S)- pinocembrin as markers for C. torelliana fruit resins and one propolis type. Ethanolic preparations of propolis were shown to be active against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and to a lesser extent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). C. torelliana flavanones inhibited the growth of S. aureus therefore contributing to the antibacterial effects observed for Australian stingless bee propolis extracts.     

Negative effect of removing pulp from unripe fleshy fruits: seed germination pattern of Celtis sinensis in relation to the temporal context of fruit consumption

We explored the temporal effects of fruit consumption on the subsequent seed germination pattern of a fleshy-fruited tree, the Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis). Via nursery-based sowing experiments, we investigated (1) how pulp removal affected seed germination patterns at the different stages of fruit maturation, and (2) how the timing of seed dispersal (August, October, and December) affected the germination patterns of seeds from ripe fruits after the removal of pulp. We found that the removal of pulp from around the seeds of ripe fruit had no effect on the percentage and timing of germination. In contrast, the removal of pulp from seeds of unripe fruits largely reduced the germination percentage. The time of sowing did not affect the germination percentage, whereas the timing of germination was delayed for seeds that were sown later or under shaded environments.     

Inhibition by pulp juice and enhancement by ingestion on germination of bird-dispersedPrunus seeds

To evaluate what prevents seed germination and why ingestion by birds enhances germination, we carried out germination experiments using bird-dispersed seeds of twoPrunus species (Prunus sargentii andP. ssiori) in the laboratory. Germination of seeds with following four treatments was compared: “Ingested seeds” excreted after feeding of fruits to birds; “Extracted seeds” deliberately extracted from the fruit pulp; “Juiced seeds” which were supplemented with the juice of the pulp after seeds had been deliberately extracted from the pulp; and “Intact seeds” in untreated whole fruits. Many ingested (27%, 23% inP. sargentii, 18% inP. ssiori) and extracted seeds (24% inP. sargentii, 17% inP. ssiori) germinated, and difference in germination percentages between ingested and extracted seeds were not significant, for eitherPrunus species. The Juiced seeds rarely germinated (2% inP. sargentii, 6% inP. ssiori), and seeds within intact fruits did not germinate. These results suggest that the fruit pulp and the juice of the pulp inhibit germination and the seeds could germinate without ingestion by birds once they had been manually extracted from pulp. Therefore, it is considered that bird ingestion enahnces germination by removing pulp, especially juice of the pulp, in these twoPrunus species.     

油茶无性系自交亲和性分析

[目的]选育自交亲和无性系,以探明油茶自交亲和状况。[方法]采用自花套袋、人工自交及自由授粉3种处理,对50份油茶无性系材料的结实率、人工自交亲和指数(CI)、相对亲和指数及果实性状进行统计分析。[结果]表明油茶存在高度自交不亲和性,属于自交少孕植物。自花套袋结实率最低,人工自交次之,自由授粉结实率最高。油茶无性系间自交亲和性存在广泛差异,参试材料自交亲和指数介于0 1.355 5之间,其中无性系0531号(CI=1.355 5)、0504号(CI=1.044 4)为自交亲和无性系,其它无性系均自交不亲和。参试材料分为3种类型,分别为自交亲和型(2%)、自交不亲和型(84%)和高度自交不亲和型(12%)。油茶人工自交的结实率及平均种子数与自由授粉的结实率及平均种子数存在极显著正相关关系(r0.6)。[结论]自交授粉油茶果实性状总体上劣于自由授粉处理,高度自交不亲和是油茶生产上落花落果,结实率低、产量低的主要原因之一。     

中国特有种枝毛野牡丹传粉生物学及繁育系统研究

对海南吊罗山国家级自然保护区枝毛野牡丹（Melastoma dendrisetosum）的开花进程,访花昆虫、访花行为、访花频率以及气候条件等进行观察记录,同时检测了花粉活力、柱头可授性、花粉胚珠比、繁育系统,并分析其致濒机制。结果表明：枝毛野牡丹是典型的异型雄蕊植物,5：30—8：30逐步开放,8：30—9：00完全开放,19：00花朵闭合,单花开放时间为12—14 h,群体花期36±2 d,无花蜜。访花昆虫主要有木蜂科、条蜂科、蚁科、食蚜蝇科的昆虫,最有效传粉昆虫为木蜂科昆虫。自然与人工授粉、套袋等试验结果表明,枝毛野牡丹不存在主动自花授粉、无融合生殖的生殖保障现象,为自交亲和的异交种,需要昆虫传粉,枝毛野牡丹繁育系统是兼性自交。枝毛野牡丹相对生殖成功率低仅为0.035,主要限制因子为花粉限制和传粉者限制。     

寒地果树凹唇壁蜂授粉及对坐果的影响1）

在苹果开花前释放壁蜂,花后对蜂管进行回收,并对蜂箱、蜂管、壁蜂授粉情况进行调查。结果表明：在寒地壁蜂的活动时间为7～16点,纸管回收率低于芦苇管回收率,坐果率高于自然授粉果树,果实种子数、单果重和果型指数明显增加。     

Phenology and pollination of Manilkara zapota in forest and homegardens

Knowledge on reproductive phenology and pollination biology are basic elements that should be considered in the management and exploitation of plant species that offer non-timber products. The tropical tree Manilkara zapota is a species from which non-timber products have been obtained for centuries by Mayan communities in Mexico. Nevertheless, there are no quantitative reports on its reproductive biology and the factors that limit fruit production. The present study describes the reproductive phenology, breeding system and pollination of this species in two contrasting environments: medium-height, subdeciduous forest, and homegardens (“solares”) in a Mayan community in the state of Yucatan. Significant differences were found between environments both in the temporal distribution of flower and mature fruit production, as well as in the proportion of mature fruits. Homegarden trees showed the greatest fruit production, although flower production did not differ between environments. Mature fruits were of better quality (i.e., greater fresh weight) in homegardens. Hand pollination experiments showed that M. zapota is self-compatible, and that there is pollinator limitation for fruit production in trees that grow in homegardens. We propose that water and soil nutrients are the main factors limiting M. zapota fruit production in forests, while in homegardens the main factor appears to be pollinator availability.     

保护地栽植矮甜李授粉方法选择试验

日光节能温室内种植的矮甜李选择授粉方法是获得高产的关键。通过人工点授、自然授粉、室内放蜂、液体授粉 4种方法的对比 ,总结出 4种授粉方法的坐果率为人工点授 (3 1 .0 7% ) >室内放蜂 (2 1 % ) >液体授粉 (9.5 3 % ) >自然授粉 (0 .1 6% ) ,从试验结果看出 ,保护地种植矮甜李必须进行辅助授粉 ,否则无产量。从经济、快捷、简便的角度出发 ,以室内放蜂为最佳授粉方法 ,放蜂量为 1 0 0 0头 /棚。     

Integrating pine honeydew honey production into forest management optimization

Pine honeydew honey is an economically important non-wood forest product from eastern Mediterranean Pinus brutia forests, which are also important for timber production. Pine honey is produced by bees that feed on the honeydew secretions of Marchalina hellenica, a scale insect that infests pine stands and feeds on pine sap. The aim of this study was to optimize the joint production of pine honeydew honey and timber by maximizing the soil expectation value of pine stands. The simulation of P. brutia stand dynamics and timber production in healthy and infested stands is based on individual-tree growth and yield models that account for the effect of M. hellenica on tree- and stand-level growth and mortality. The optimization procedure uses a direct search method based on nonlinear programming. The results suggest that pine stands growing on good sites should be managed using rather short rotations and mainly aiming at timber production. In contrast, forest management in medium- and poor-quality sites should aim at longer rotations by taking advantage of the joint production of pine honey and timber assortments. Honey-oriented forest management can be much more profitable than timber production in stands growing on medium and poor sites. Pine honey represents an opportunity to increase the value and economic profitability of P. brutia forests.     

Bienenzucht in Südtirol

Apiculture in South Tyrol To day there are 40 000 bee swarms in South Tyrol. By their production of honey and wax the highlanders can increase their income. Furthermore the bees pollinate almost 7 millions of fruit trees as well as the plants of natural vegetation. In consequence of the using of insecticides in some regions the number of swarms has been strongly reduced. Unfortunately there is no rule in Italy which prohibits the using of toxical preparations during flower time. But altogether the apiculture in South Tyrol didn't decrease in last years in contrast to the most other European countries. The Agricultural School of Dietenheim near Bruneck harbours a station for apicultural information and research. But the equipment is antiquated. In the interest of rearing pure-blood bees (carnica-race) as well as of a better promotion of South Tyrolian apiculture it is urgent to build up a modern apicultural centre.     

濒危植物猪血木的传粉生物学特性研究

猪血木是中国特有的山茶科单型属猪血木属的一种珍稀濒危植物,只在广东省阳春市八甲镇有分布,现存种群数量极少。对猪血木的开花物候、花部结构、访花昆虫及访花行为进行了观察,并针对猪血木的野外传粉过程进行了套袋对比实验。此有关其传粉生物学特性的研究结果表明:猪血木自然开花正常且花期长,自然结实率为42.4%~50.4%;猪血木为虫媒植物,传粉者为蜂、蝇、蝶等类的多种昆虫,在花上共捕到17种昆虫,其中9种在各居群均见分布,其传粉途径正常,为异花授粉植物。有鉴于猪血木分布地高强度的农业开发及城市化建设对其传粉昆虫生存及分布的影响,建议在对猪血木的保护策略中注意保护其传粉昆虫。     

楸树与滇楸种间杂交的初步研究

采用常规杂交方法,开展楸树与滇楸种间杂交育种,对结实率、果实性状、千粒质量、有胚率、发芽性状及1年生株高、胸径等数据进行统计分析。结果表明:父本对结实率的影响不显著,母本对结实率影响显著;父本对果实性状的影响均不显著,母本对果实长度的影响显著;父母本对千粒质量的影响均不显著;父母本对有胚率、发芽势、发芽率的影响显著或极显著。不同杂交组合间株高和胸径存在极显著差异,杂交组合8-12×滇3表现最好,其株高为2.09 m,胸径达到1.38 cm,杂交组合8-13×滇2和5-8×滇2表现也较好,依据株高、胸径进行苗期早期选择的潜力较大;表现最差的组合是8-14×滇2,株高1.69 m,胸径1.00 cm。     

Advances in domestication of indigenous fruit trees in the West African Sahel

Fruit trees play an important nutritional role for livelihoods of rural people in the West African Sahel through provision of energy and nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Research on the domestication of local fruit trees has started recently through projects concentrating on some of the most important indigenous species of dry West Africa, i.e. Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, Vitellaria paradoxa and Ziziphus mauritiana. We present a status of finalised and ongoing domestication research with the aim of defining research gaps that would need to be covered by future research activities to obtain higher yields and better quality fruits. Germplasm collection in central West Africa has been intense compared to elsewhere in the species?? distribution areas, but conservation status of the material is poor since it is only planted in few trials. Knowledge of genetic parameters, especially for fruit traits, is almost absent, but characterisation of genotypes is underway for some of the species. Mating systems and patterns are still unknown for many species. Efficient vegetative propagation based on simple techniques was shown to be possible for all species except P. biglobosa. In order to secure immediate as well as long term gains, we recommend combining clonal propagation of selected plus individuals with recombination and breeding of selected genotypes. We discuss whether local institutions in the Sahel have the financial capacity to carry out long term breeding programmes, and suggest that efforts should be made to find new ways of disseminating improved germplasm.     

文冠果授粉习性和果实发育规律的研究

以人工控制授粉方式对文冠果授粉特性、落果规律以及果实和种胚的发育规律进行试验,研究其落果原因。结果表明:文冠果不孕花新鲜花粉的活力可达93%以上,花粉在柱头上萌发及花粉管在花柱中的伸长均正常,但自花授粉的果实在早期败育;人工授粉的正常果实发育与自然授粉果实发育相比,存在生长速度慢、果实小的现象;种胚发育的球形胚阶段与果实发育的转折点存在对应关系。推测:文冠果落果与是否完成受精作用以及后期的营养竞争有关,而球形胚时期是营养竞争和果实发育的关键时期。